Fearing no metaphor and drawn instinctively to the bright flame of the American West, Stenson is a fire builder. He pits soft Americana against tender, billowy pop until it sparks, fanning the flame with his gusty, crackling vocals for warmth.
Mark Stock – Willamette Week
Born in Lander, WY and raised in Oregon, Tyler Stenson (30) is a bold singer/songwriter that draws profound influence from his roots in the humble West. Reminiscent of a pining Western poet, his music is straightforward but elegant at its core. With his acoustic guitar navigating in shotgun, Stenson’s rich lyrics grip the wheel; white-knuckled and swollen with natural imagery and stark confessions.
“As long as there has been a song, I’ve felt it in my bones. It was a gift from my dear mother and her father who passed on – yes, a long line of the Music Makers and of Soldiers for the Muse.” Tyler Stenson – Fight ‘Til Dying Day
Raised a vocalist by his musical mother and a perfectionist by his father the architect, Stenson is a lifetime student of craft and calculated creativity. His first guitar was a gift from his grandmother during his senior year of high school and after teaching himself the raw basics of folk and country, he naturally penned his first song in the early months of 2000 –- Her Song. What proved to be a definitive moment on this great timeline, in the few years to follow, he has written and recorded nine albums and has fearlessly developed his passion for song.
“If we’re not growing, we’re staying the same. So, I’ll continue to change and stretch myself day-to-day. We’re entitled to change because we grow.” Tyler Stenson – We Grow
As front man and songwriter for his two bands Lander and Rhetoric Tuesday, Stenson played the Oregon college circuit throughout the early 2000s. Later, he put band-oriented rock-n-roll to rest and tackled the burgeoning Portland scene as a solo artist. His authentic ways were well received as he was almost immediately twice-named the Portland Songwriters Association Performing Songwriter of the Year (2007 and 2008). Because no other artist has ever earned that distinction in consecutive years, it wasn’t long before Stenson was widely considered the top singer/songwriter in Portland.
“Who was I to leave Oregon when the rearview facing West held all I loved? When it becomes October, I might become my own fall, but might never know my cards until I call.” Tyler Stenson – Leave Oregon
By October of 2009, it seemed Stenson had made his presence known and had conquered every venue in his hometown; therefore, in front of a sold out crowd at the Aladdin Theater in Portland, he bid an open-ended farewell to the city and the people he loved to take a leap of faith and try his talent on a bigger stage -- the Music City. For roughly 15 months, Stenson tried his hand as a singer/songwriter in Nashville and though he made substantial traction in a short time, he found that it simply wasn’t the environment that best suited his specific path and left-of-center leanings.
“Getting there is as endless as it seems. That’s why I’m sitting here in Tennessee – with the words but no one to call – because somebody’s gonna make it – but it better be us all.” Tyler Stenson – Better Be Us All
Now, back in Portland, Stenson was recently named the Best Male Artist at the 2011 Portland Music Awards. Over 100,000 votes were collected and although he had been away for some time, the Portland community made it known that he was not forgotten during his stint in Nashville.
With these new accolade under his belt, Stenson is content with simply enjoying the beauties of the Great Northwest, for the time being, and writing the songs he wants to write -- come what may.
In an industry where content has taken a backseat to production, Stenson maintains that lyric is king. The world craves authenticity and his expression is just that; putting lumps in throats and attracting a train of followers who find a piece of themselves in the sincerity of his words. It may be a steep hill to climb but his endeavors are genuine and he’ll no doubt make his mark because no one sums up the human existence in such a way as Tyler Stenson and his words.
"Don't whisper softly the things that you want loudly to be – be like a wave – leave impressions on the sand." Tyler Stenson – Whistle Stop